Sunday, April 26, 2009

We found it. It took a while, but we found it. We found our coffee house. It is perfect. About half of a mile from our house, in a rough neighborhood, is the best coffee shop.

The building was purchased about a year ago by a grieving mother that lost her son in a car accident. She found this run down building and saw the potential it had, despite it's questionable location. Taking a risk, she purchased the building and started renovating, using materials from other buildings that were rundown and, with the assistance of many friends and neighbors, created a beautiful place to hang out.

This morning we ordered our drinks and sat at the counter, hoping to strike up some conversation. The owner was working the grill, efficiently putting orders together while sharing with us a bit of the building's history. I did a google search and found some very interesting details to fill in more of the story that she shared.

On our way back from the coffee shop, I felt my heart connecting with this new city. I can see us here, creating a home here. There was something deeply rewarding about finding this coffee shop. Maybe it was the sun and the fresh air combined with the great opportunities of meeting and connecting with new people this week and that made this great find even more exciting.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Time flies. Today marks the 36th week. I am 90% of the way through my pregnancy, and have 28 days left. I think the scariest number is the 28 days. That is such a short amount of time.

I had another appointment today and am very excited. Things are going so well. My blood pressure was back to normal and I have even lost a pound. (I'm thinking it was the stomach bug diet that made me lose that pound)

It is mandatory in the state of NY to have an HIV blood test done when you are pregnant. I understand, but in my case I know I don't have HIV and think it is a waste of time and money to test me for it. But either way, they took my blood today.

They also did the Group B Strep test and checked my cervix. I am about a 1 and she said about 60-75% effaced. She said she was able to touch his head and that it isn't going anywhere. The head is in the -1 position, which means his head is dropping.

After feeling my belly and pushing on the baby she said he already weighs 7 pounds and that if she didn't know better she would think I was further than 36 weeks.

All of a sudden this feels real. This baby is coming and from the sound of it, sooner rather than later. I am so excited! I can not wait to meet Levi, to hold him in my arms, to get to know his personality, to stare at him for hours on end.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

The men in the Petty family are known for a few things. One is baldness. Most men go bald at some point in their twenties. Tony still has a full head of hair, much to his disgust. The Pettys are also known for making bib babies. Tony's grandma's first son weighed 14 pounds at birth.

I have been warned of this "Petty curse" and didn't think too much of it. After all, that was at least fifty years ago when he was born and she went two months past her due date. In addition, Tony and I had normal birth weights. So, of all the things I had been worried about, this was not one of them.

Last week at my appointment, my midwife said I was measuring large and wanted to have an ultrasound done. I was measuring 37 and at most should have been 34, according to her.

So today I went in for my ultrasound. Everything looks wonderful. His heart has all four chambers with a good heart beat, he has all of his limbs, his head is already positioned low, and the tech was even able to see that he has hair.

The first measurement was his head. I am 33 weeks along and his head measured 35 weeks. Once the tech was done, she said that according to their estimates he already weighs 5 pounds, 6 ounces. And he is supposed to gain half a pound each week, with 7 weeks left. Yikes. If these numbers are accurate and I go full term, I will have a very big baby.